THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

Things are good.

As things generally seem to go, nothing turns out exactly how you had thought it might. Now, this is not necessarily a bad thing, in fact it often is something very positive. Either way, it's almost never the way we imagine things going.

Not better. Not worse. Just, different.

You may hear me say that I am a work in progress. This is because I am growing up, still. I make mistakes, and I learn things every day.

I learn these things through trial and error, you know, the scientific method.

This point is most readily illustrated by a recent reunion with an old friend. This friend is, and always has been very close to me, I would say she knows me better than most people, save a few. Due to circumstances and choices, it had been nearly two years since I had seen her.

As often happens, the distance and time you put between two people can make it more difficult to bring them back together, despite how badly you might think you want it. This is one of the great mysteries and paradoxes of life.

In my experience, there are many, many more.

Finally, the day had come. We met up for some coffee and some talk. To be honest, I was very nervous. But there she was, just as if we had never parted. Thankfully, the awkwardness left us quickly, and the entire experience was great.

It is difficult to see someone who you have not seen in nearly two years. As I later found out, I wasn't the only one who was nervous. And I must admit, the distance you put between yourselves tends to be nurtured and strengthened by the separated. Perhaps we are afraid we have changed or they have changed, and we won't recognize each other. Perhaps we are afraid that the idea of the other person that we hold in our minds doesn't have their flaws - that we have remembered them incorrectly.

Perhaps we are afraid.

Well, lesson learned. If you want something, don't let your fears get in the way. I did it, and I'm glad I did.

This brings me to the second lesson I've learned recently.

So, one year ago, some friends and I went to Rhema to listen to some music and watch some fireworks.

As many of you know, last summer was amazing. Every day was spent waking up late from the night before, finding out what the plan for the evening was, and setting out into the unknown. That was the summer.

Today is the day. Exactly one year ago, to the day, was one of those landmark moments in an era - one of those occasions that you will later reminisce about, no matter how certain you are that you shouldn't ever reminisce but rather look forward.

Live in the moment.

That's why I'm going to stop writing about what happened a year ago, and focus on what I can do today that will make this summer more memorable than last.

Sometimes you just have to learn these things the hard way. But if you make it stick, it's worth it.